George brownlee



' 1bn/ZZ wlwm 'it 'may concern I dirimimes @anni @Wina GEORGE BROWNLEE, OF PRINCETON, INDIANA.

Leners Patent No. 92,936, zaad July 27, 186e.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of. the same.

` vFigure 2 isa vertical transverse section 'ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a detail side view, partly in section, yof the same.

Similar letters of' reference indicate corresponding parts.

This. invention relates to a new device,l which isto be used for skating O n ordinary roads, to be attached tothe feet and rolled over the ground.,-

The invention is also applicable to other vehicles,

suchas velocipedes and wheelbarrows; and

It consists chiefly in suspending the weight of the rider or load to be conveyed from the top of the wheel or hoop.

The invention consists also iu a novel arrangement of self-acting brakes, as applied to the pedecycle aforesaid, and in the application of a balance-tube', containing al ball or other rolling weightfor operating said brake.

A,'in the drawing, represents a hoop of suitable size, and made of sheet-metal or other suitable material,

either solid or hollow, as in fig. 2.

From the top of this hoop is suspended a frame, B, which carries a small wheelor roller, a, that rests on the edge ofthe hoop on top of the same, as shown.

The lower part of the iame B carries a foot-support, b, within the hobp,xand some side-guard rollers, c c, that fit against the faces of the hoop, to prevent lateral displacementof the frame.

C 'is atube suspended at its middle bya pin, d, from the upper part of the frame, in Asuch manner that it can swing on its pivot. It is, by means of levers e ethat are pivoted to the iiame, connected with two brake-'shoes f g, respectively, which are in front and rear of the roller a, as shown. 1.

The tube, which is closed at its ends, contains a ball, h, which can freely roll from. end to end of the tube.

The end of the tube containing the ball will be lowered, and thereby the brake, connectedl with such lowered end, will be applied to the roller a.

One such device 1s to beapplied to each foot of a person, in the manner indicated in fig. 1, and the feet 4 are to be moved in a manner similar to skating.

When the foot is moved forward, to more v,or .less incline forward, the foot C will also be inclined in the same direction, and the frontbrake f will thereby he applied, which will act against a, so as to prevent the hoop from rolling backward. When the foot is placed so as to be lower at the heel, it will cause the tube C to swing and apply the rear brake g. The hoop is v then prevented from turning backward. Thus, when the foot has been pushed forward as far as necessary,

it will be so inclined as to apply the brake g, whereby 4 it is prevented from slipping further forward.

When the skater stiikes backto propel the body forward, the toe is lowered and the front brake applied,

-whereby the foot is back.

By leaving oli' the brakes, making the hoop O f larger size, and arranging a seat within it, in the frame B, the device may be used for a one-wheeled velocipede, to be propelled by hands or feet, in suitable manner, or it may, if desired, be provided with prevented from slipping further two Or more such hoops. The saine device may be used for transporting goods On the frame B.

.The weight being suspended from the top of the wheel, greater leverage is obtained. Y

A small roller, fi, may be arranged within the hoop on the frame B, to lit against the inner edge of the hoop, opposite toa, as shown.

Having thus described -my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A pedecycle, made and operating substantially as herein ,shown and described.

2..A vehicle, in Whichthe weight to be conveyed is suspended from the top of the wheel or wheels', substantially as herein shown and described. 3. 'lhe brakes f g, applied automatically to theI bearing-roller a, tO prevent either backward Or forward motion of the hoop, substantially as'herein shown and described.

4. The 'pivoted tube O, containing the ball lt, to operate the brakes fg, automatically, substantially as herein shown and described.

Witnesses: GEORGE BROWNLEE.

CHARLES BROWNLEE, JAMEs THOMSON. v 

